Trench-digger.



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APPLICATION FILED JULY 3, 1903.

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v10.757,459. PATENTED APR. 19, 1904.

J. HELM. TRBNGH BIGGER. APPLIOATION I'ILED JULY 3, 1903.

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APPLIOATION FILED JULY 3, 1903. I

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Patented April 19, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN OE ST. LOIS, MISSOURI.

. TRENCH-DIGGER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of. Letters Patent No. 757,459, dated April19, 1904. Application led July 3, 1903. Serial No. 164,236. (No model.)`

To a/ZZ whom' it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN HELM, a citizen of the United States, and aresident of the city of St. Louis and State of Missouri, have invented anew and useful Trench-Digger, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relatesl to trench-diggers, and hasfor its principal objectto improve the construction thereof.

of the adjusting device for the gathering mech` anism.` Fig. VII is anedge view of Fig. VI, and Fig. VIII is an enlarged view on the line VIIIVIII of Fig. I of the lower end of the gathering mechanism.

The device comprises a main frame 1, which is preferably mounted onrollers 2, adapted to travel on tracks 3, provided therefor. Twoparallel bars4 are mounted on said main frame 1 to constitute verticalguideways for an elongated framework 5. Theside bars 6 of said framework5 are preferably channel-bars or otherwise have flanges 7 arrangedthereon to.

engage said guideways 4 and movably mount said frameworkon saidguideways. On the lower end of said side bars 6 of said framework 5 isrevolubly mounted a cutter-head. This cutter-head consists, preferably,of any de- Sired number of pointed bars or'picking'or digging tools 8,arranged transversely of each other and mounted on an axle 9, which isjournaled in said Side bars `6. Said axle 9 has a crank 10 in the middlethereof, which is connected to an engine 11 by-a rod 12. Said engine islocated in the lower portion of said framework 5 and is connected by-aflexible supply-pipe 13 to a boiler 14 on the forward end of said mainframe 1. Said framework 5, which carries said cutter-head and engine,

is raised by means of a rope 1 5, v'vhiehV is fastened to the lower partof said framework and which passes over a pulley 16, mounted at theupper ends of said guideways 4 and winds around a drum 17 onsaid mainframe 1. `Said drum is actuated by a Steam-engine 18, mount# ed On saidmain frame 1.'c This engine receives steam from the boiler through a'steam-pipe 19. In therear of 'said framework 5 is arranged a gatheringmechanism for the material loosened by said cutter-head. Said gatheringmechanisiri` consists, preferably, of an endless chain or belt 20,having flights or buckets 21 arranged thereon and mounted onsprocket-wheels 22 23. at the top and bottom thereof, respectively. Saidtop sprocket-wheel 22 is mounted on said main frame and is driven by apulley 24 mounted on the axle thereof, which pulley is driven by a belt25, connected to said engine 18. Said lower sprocket-wheel 23 ispreferably adjustably supported by bars 26, depending from said mainframe and having extensions 27 secured thereto by'r meansl of bolts 28.Said extension-pieces 27 have flanges 29 thereon,which extend at anangle forwardly any desireddistance to the sides of the trench to directthe loosened material onto the flight or buckets of the gatheringmechanism. An incline 30 is provided on said main frame near the upperend of said gathering mechanism, onto which said loosened material fallsafter being carried out of the trench. A deliveryconveyer consisting ofa belt 31, mounted on pulleys 32, is preferably provided on said mainframe, which conveyerreceives said loosened material after it falls fromsaid incline and conveys the sanieto the desired place. Saiddelivery-conveyer is operated by a pulley 33,which is driven by a belt34, which is also driven by said engine18.

The operation of my device is as follows: The gatheringV mechanism isadjusted to the depth of the trench by removing the bolts 28 in thesupporting-bars 26 and lowering the sprocket-wheel V23 vto the desireddepth. Said bolts are then replaced in` position, andthe chain or belt20 is then mounted in position on the sprocket-wheels 23 24. The anges29 on the extension-pieces 27 for said supportingbars 26 are extended tothe sides of the trench,

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so as to push the loosened lmaterial onto said belt from the sidesthereof. The elongated framework 5 is raised, so that the cutter-headwill engage a small amount of the material in 5 ,the path to be cut. Theengine 18 is set in motion and actuates the cutter-head,so that theloosened material falls to the bottom of the trench, where it is carriedupwardly by the gathering-conveyer. From said gathering- IO conveyersaid material falls onto the incline and thence onto thedelivery-conveyer, whereby it is carried to any desired place. Thecutter-head is fed continuously downward by the weight of the elongatedframework 5 and of I5 the engine 18 thereon, and it is free to movedownwardly as fast as the material is loosened. As soon as thecutter-head reaches the desired depth the entire framework 5 is raisedto the top of the trench by means of the rope 15, 2O which is actuatedby the engine 18. The entire device is then moved forward a shortdistance to permit the cutter-head to again engage the material to becut away, and the cutter-head repeats the automatic operation above 25described.

Obviously divers changes -may be made in the construction of my device,and I do not wish to be restricted to the Idetails herein set forth.

What I claim is- 1. A trench-digger comprising a main frame havingvertical guideways, an elongated framework movably mounted in saidguide- Ways, an engine mounted on said framework, and a cutter-headarranged to be actuated by said engine, substantially as described.

2. A trench-digger comprising a main frame having vertical guideways, anelongated framework movably mounted in said guide- 40 Ways, an enginemounted on said framework, and a cutter-head located at the lowermostportion of said framework and arranged to be actuated by said engine,substantially as described.

3. A trench-digger comprising a main frame i framework movably mountedin said guideways, an engine mounted on said framework, a cutter-headlocated at the lowermost portion of said framework and arranged to beactuated by said engine, and means for hoisting said framework, allarranged so that the weight of the framework and of the engine feed thecutter continuously downward, substantially as described.

4. Atrench-digger comprising amain frame having i vertical guideways, anelongated framework movably mounted in said guideways, an engine mountedon said framework, a cutter-head located at the lowermost portion ofsaid framework and arranged to be actuated by said engine, means forhoisting said framework, and means for gathering the loosened material,substantially as described.

5. yA trench-digger comprising a main frame having vertical guideways,an elongated framework movably mounted in said guideways, an enginemounted on said framework, a cutter-head located at the .lowermostportion of said framework and arranged to be actuated by said engine,means for hoisting said framework, means for gathering the loosenedmaterial, and a delivery conveyer for the loosened material,substantially as described.

6. A trench-digger comprising a main frame having vertical guideways, anelongated framework movably mounted in said guideways, an engine mountedon said framework, a cutter-head located at the lowermost portion ofsaid framework and arranged to be actuated by said engine, means forhoisting said framework, an adjustably-mounted gatheringconveyer for theloosened material and a delivery-conveyer for said loosened material,substantially as described.

Signed at St. Louis, Missouri, this 29th day of June, 1903.

JOHN HELM.

